Honestly. OP, you're barking down the wrong path. Changing job titles on your CV won't get you a contract. I've followed your posts and threads over the past month or so and it's getting a bit out of hand.
If I was you, this is what I'd do.
1. Stop posting on here for a while.
Seriously, it's not doing you any good and you are misinterpreting what is being said to you, leading you further away from any real issues.
2. Write down what you think your qualities are. Then next to was one, write down why you came to that conclusion (maybe it was a particular skill or achievement that got you a past role). Whatever you do, just be honest to yourself, (even if it hurts).
3. Take the strengths, think about how you might use those to respond to interview questions.
4. Contemplate your weaknessses. Are they important? Write a plan as to how you're gonna improve them, maybe even use them in your interview (god forbid we mention weaknesses huh).
(hey, maybe even a personal SWOT (to cover off the OT ;p) analysis, it will do you good.)
Number 1 is important. Forget about changing your job titles or any other useless crap like that. It won't help. There are things you can be doing that WILL help. YOU need to figure out what those are.
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Previously on "Is it Ok to tweak Job titles in CV to match that of role applying..?"
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I only have one job title on my CV for all my contract work - "XYZ Consultant", which seemed like a catch-all for different types of roles - developer/architect and also proper advisory consultancy.
The trouble is, there are many recruitment agents who use these titles now (including "Middleware consultant", "technical consultant") and their profiles on LinkedIn are full of technical keywords.
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Originally posted by northernladuk View PostYou are potentially entering in to dangerous territory here. If you had a client that had an odd job title I don't see a problem changing the title to something more industry recognised. Creating something with the intention to mislead or make you look like something you weren't then no.
Will people find out? Who knows. Agents may have old CVs on record
Obviously if you big up your role so you are something you are not e.g. Director of Testing when you are a Test Manager then you are going to have problems.
Originally posted by northernladuk View Postand you've got to work very careful with linkedin. Too many changes and you are not going to be able to match CVs with your profile. I've turned down inerviews with contractors because there was enough differences between the CV I got and their linkedin profile. I don't know which is the truth so I'll pass.
Oh I've come across the profiles of some contractors I've worked alongside and their profiles are a complete lie. I find it very amusing.
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Originally posted by WTFH View PostTell us what the difference is between a "program test manager" and a "test manager", in your opinion.
Also, if you change the title, you need to change the 1 or two lines of description of the role underneath as well.
And one last thing, you need to "downgrade" your ego.
Guys,
Come on - WTFH (acronym for working from home but with a random T added!?!) has got it right.
I have met people who call themselves "Programme Managers" on LinkedIn who were actually a good performing project manager when I worked with them... and vice versa.
I think if you were changing it from "Test Manager" to "Programme Director", then yes off course it's a problem.
But from "Test This" to "Test That", within reason it's not too big an issue., especially as good interviewers are veterans at spotting BS. Truth is always best, but from what I see on LinkedIn it seems that a worryingly high percentage of people like to big up their titles. Depressing but I suppose they are doing it to try and get bigger / better paying roles no doubt.
PS I interviewed a guy once for a Project Manager role on our team and he had "Programme Manager" dotted here and there on the CV... (the rest of the CV was good) but he squirmed and got uncomfortable when I started asking a number of questions on those specific Programme roles, became obvious very quickly he was a Project Manager on those too...
Point is, it's easy to find out.
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Originally posted by Darren_Test View Postdifference is that between program manager and project manager...responsibility for a larger programme than just 1/2 projects. No much difference in terms of activities.
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Originally posted by le3ky View PostIt might be related to OPs other thread about feedback saying he is too experienced in the phone interview.
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Originally posted by kaiser78 View PostIsn't it better to say "Test Manager - xx Programme" and then "Test Manager - yyy Project", tweaking as appropriate ?
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Originally posted by northernladyuk View PostThe OP's point may be about securing interview in the first place.
exactly..need to get a chance to talk to someone face to face.
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Originally posted by le3ky View PostIt doesn't make any difference if you can't prove what you were doing in your interview. The job title means less, the substance in what you write about your duties and experience in that role mean more.
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Originally posted by northernladyuk View PostIf it's a contract role, put what you like within reason would be my approach. Make sure it matched LinkedIn. I tend now to take on contracts which are based around delivering pieces of work without a 'role title' and then afterwards I fit a suitable description around it. My current client, for internal purposes, labels me as 'Senior Project Manager' even though I'm not project managing anything. They've asked be to put this on my email signature but I've ignored it and just put the Programme I am working in without a title.
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Originally posted by WTFH View PostTell us what the difference is between a "program test manager" and a "test manager", in your opinion.
Also, if you change the title, you need to change the 1 or two lines of description of the role underneath as well.
And one last thing, you need to "downgrade" your ego.
Leave a comment:
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You are potentially entering in to dangerous territory here. If you had a client that had an odd job title I don't see a problem changing the title to something more industry recognised. Creating something with the intention to mislead or make you look like something you weren't then no.
Will people find out? Who knows. Agents may have old CVs on record and you've got to work very careful with linkedin. Too many changes and you are not going to be able to match CVs with your profile. I've turned down inerviews with contractors because there was enough differences between the CV I got and their linkedin profile. I don't know which is the truth so I'll pass.
Leave a comment:
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Originally posted by kaiser78 View PostIsn't it better to say "Test Manager - xx Programme" and then "Test Manager - yyy Project", tweaking as appropriate ?
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Originally posted by Darren_Test View PostIs it fair to tweak Job titles in CV to match that of role applying..??
This means downgrading titles of some of my roles to match that of job in question.
Concern is some of my CVs my last role will be 'Programme Test Manager' (correct one) and downgraded one will shows as 'Test Manager' to match that role.
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